If a fast setup time is preferable, you will find the hard floor campers faster and
easier to setup. The hard floor campers having the extended area above the ground keeps
them drier in wetter conditions. This also reduces the packing up time considering that the bottom of the hard floor camper is up above the wet ground and does not need to be
cleaned before packing up.

Soft floor camper trailers offer a larger extended area once setup, though this takes
longer to setup and is more difficult when setting up when it is dark. Soft floor campers
have a larger canvas surface area, which needs to be cleaned and dried before packing up. This adds significant time packing it up.

Both hard floor and soft floor campers are essentially the same size and weigh the same. There are many accessories that can be fitted to either hard floor or soft floor camper trailers, this is the main determining factor to the weight of the trailer.

There are two main types of suspension used on both hard floor and soft floor campers. Leaf spring suspension comes on both campers, the amount of springs fitted is dependant on the weight of the camper and the amount of accessories. Typically an extreme off road camper be it hard floor or soft floor will have 6 or 7 springs.

Independent coil spring suspension is offered by some manufacturers for extreme off road camper trailers. This suspension is more suited to long travels over very corrugated roads. These have the advantage over leaf sprung trailers due to a combination of coil springs and shock absorber combination that is suited more to extreme conditions.

Prior to purchasing your camper trailer, consider the terrain you will be travelling over, the duration of your stays along the way, the preferable setup time along the way and once arriving at your camping destination.

A quote from a hard floor camper trailer owner “We’ve had 6″ of water running under our hard floor camper and we just sat inside and watched it and peoples thongs go whizzing past. Not a drop in the camper. Love it. ”

Hard floor campers typically keep dust out of the campers internal storage compared to a soft floor camper trailer.

Soft floor camper trailers come with a large tent and pole assembly held in place with a large cover. To assemble the tent requires the removal of the cover and then extension of the tent and poles onto the ground below. Then staking the tent into place using a series of tent pegs into the ground. Typically these tents have awnings and the ability to add on an extra series of rooms. These provide a large covered area to stay in while camping and can accomodate up to 8 people if needed. Soft floor campers provide a larger camping area though take significantly more time to setup than their hard floor counterparts.

Soft floors, typically also have much more storage space, so if you’re like me and have a wife who packs absolutely everything you could possibly imagine, it comes in handy.

It also depends where you want to stay having to drive pegs into the ground when it’s all rock makes the soft floor a bad option. You need to think about what is in the package I have had both and much prefer my hard floor. You can get some Aussie made hard floors quite cheep it just depends what you want

Price Consideration.
Generally speaking hard floor camper trailers are more expensive than their soft floor
counter parts.

Towing weight is an important consideration when ordering either a soft floor
or hard floor camper. The weight is more determined by the amount of accessories added
to the individual camper trailer, more than whether a soft floor or hard floor distinction.

Offroad abilities? Both hard floor and soft floor offroad camper trailers have equal offroad abilities. This is more dependant on the suspension fitted to the trailer be it hard floor or soft floor.

A good, strongly built camper trailer can be taken just about anywhere you can go in your four wheel drive. A trailer with high clearance, longer draw bar and a good offroad coupling will track and articulate over all manner of rough and uneven bush tracks, enabling you to get to the most remote outback or bush campsites and set up a comfortable camp with your trailer as the centerpiece.

However there are some important considerations before you head off into the wilderness.

Most trailers weigh between 500kg and 750kg, more when loaded or carrying water, extra fuel etc. That can be a lot of dead weight behind your vehicle. So remember that just because your 4wd will go there, don’t expect to go there just as easily with your trailer! Spend some time on some familiar offroad terrain to get used to the difference towing a trailer makes to the performance of your vehicle on these tracks. Hitting a steep hill in the wrong gear and running out of power could be a nightmare, and three point turns on switchbacks take on a very new meaning with a loaded trailer in tow! And dunes and slippery hills may prove impassable where a well equipped vehicle might have pushed though. Get used to slowing and stopping, especially down hills. Electric and hydraulic brakes work differently so if the trailer is equipped with brakes, get the feel of how they operate and how to use them.

Another thing that will help you through difficult terrain is airing down the tyres on the trailer, just as reducing tyre pressure in your 4wd will help get through sand and mud more easily. Reducing pressure gives the tyres a bigger “footprint” and allows the trailer tyres to roll over the top of surfaces they might otherwise cut into and “bog down” your progress.

Don’t forget about maintenance. Just as it is critical to make sure your vehicle is in top condition before an offroad trip, trailer maintenance will help avoid trackside grief. Wheel bearings and brake systems need to be serviced regularly, particularly if you frequently tow your trailer through water.

Finally, plan your trip. Typically there is more than one route to the same destination, and in remote locations and extreme conditions it pays to know which routes are safest for your vehicle and trailer. For example many people condemn the use of trailers in the Simpson Desert; however the Rig road is very different to the tall soft dunes of the French Line. There is no sense in taking a “she’ll be right” attitude only to turn a pleasant days touring into a long, hard day and a late camp… not the families idea of a holiday! You can always camp in one place and do day trips out from there if serious offroading is what you’re about.

In summary, a camper trailer is a great way to carry your extra gear and provide the whole family with a quick and comfortable campsite at the end of each days touring. However towing a laden camper trailer changes what you can do and where you can go you’re your 4wd. Taking a few simple precautions can make all the difference. Knowing your capabilities and the limitations on your vehicle when towing a trailer, maintaining your trailer, and planning your trip with your trailer in mind, will help you enjoy your time away and save costly repairs and even recovery from remote areas.

With the wear and tear suffered at the hands of corrugations and the combined rugged conditions found on forest tracks and outback roads, a standard or onroad camper will not last long.  So if you plan to go bush camping, taking your trailer down serious 4wd tracks towed by your trusty offroad vehicle, then you will need an offroad trailer to match.
Again the options are vast, but we’re narrowing it down.  Just as your 4wd vehicle is designed to take the punishment of harsh offroad conditions,  so is a properly designed offroad camper trailer.  The trailer will have, as a minimum, heavy duty construction and drawbar, including some form of frame or chassis, along with heavy duty offroad springs and axels, for example the popular 7 leaf eye to eye shackle springs.   Electric or hydraulic brakes are almost a must for these trailers, giving more control in challenging conditions, and required in any case if the trailer is over a certain weight.  There are also a variety of specialised offroad couplings, and often extended drawbars, both options allowing for greater maneuverability in offroad conditions.   Of course tyres are also offroad, should include a spare, and where possible should be matched to the wheels and tyres on your primary towing vehicle.
As with onroad trailers, alternatives  abound.   A stone guard is a must, and not always standard equipment.   Toolboxes on the drawbar, of various sizes and construction, or even secure and dustproof storage spaces built into the sides of the trailer.  Jerry can holders are an important consideration, for carrying extra fuel or water.  Kitchens and water storage under the trailer as well.  From a simple fold out tailgate with a shelf for a gas stove, to a deluxe extendable swingout kitchen with pantry and plumbing to gas bottles and twin water tanks.  From no electrics, to 12v lighting and water pump systems, battery chargers and inverters, and 240 volt connections.

Next is the tent.  Make sure the tent is made from quality Australian made and treated canvas;  there have been many lesser quality imported tents being sold on camper trailers in recent years – however most quality dealers are staying well away from them now.   Most standard tents simply fold out from the top of the trailer, creating a decent sized room and leaving a platform for a double bed mattress.   Tent sizes vary from 9ft to 15ft or even more, however in the case of a hard floor camper, where the top of the camper trailer folds over and down to become a platform on the ground, the tent size will be limited.
Another important consideration is the amount of airflow, in the form of numbers and sizes of windows and doors.   In warm weather or just in direct sun, the inside of a canvas tent can become very warm very quickly.   Insect screens on those windows, and zip-down canvas awnings, are critical.  Check to see if the screen material is fine, midge-proof screening or simply fly-screen!   Different models also offer different combinations of awnings, annexes and additional rooms.  A good standard is an awning with an end wall, and options to add zip-on walls afterwards or as part of a package.   Additional rooms may cater to a larger family, or simply more storage on those longer stays.
With all this in mind, only you can strike a balance between what you want in a trailer, and what you can afford to pay!!  There are many good, soft-floor offroad options in the $9,000 –  $15,000 price range; decide whats important to you and look carefully at whats on offer in different packages.  Don’t  get drawn into paying for what you don’t need.   There are many “deluxe” options that offer far more than the average bush camper would have considered before setting out to buy a trailer.

Happy Hunting!

Camper trailers originated from using existing box trailers and adding the addition of a tent purchased on top of it. After this many accessories have been included into the mix. For example, most standard camper trailers have a wet kitchen included now as standard on the more basic models, additionally many have 12 volt power systems including one or two batteries to supply power while away from any other power source.

Why camper trailers over normal camping?
Camper trailers allow people to store their belongings in the trailer so as not to overload their vehicle. The beds in camper trailers are up off the ground and most come with a queen size bed that is made up before leaving. This makes for a more comfortable bed than one the ground. With the addition of wet kitchen facilities makes the camping experience much more enjoyable.
Camper trailers have a lot of storage space, which enables the camper to leave their camp and tour with their tow vehicle unloaded.

Camper trailer over typical caravan.
The main advantage camper trailers have over a normal caravan, is the ability to two the camper trailer over rough terrain that would normally stop the camper from accessing the more remote camping areas with a normal and also offroad caravan. Off road camper trailers have very strong suspension that can take the offroad conditions that a normal caravan cannot.

Why Hire a camper trailer?
With so many different camper trailers on the market, many prospective customers find it very difficult to choose between the brands and models available.

Hiring a camper trailer is the best way to find what suits your needs. This is a cost effective way to camp using a camper trailer, and while you are camping you will most likely come across other camper trailers who im sure the owners will be happy to disucss with you the good and bad things about their particular model.

You will also see what is useful in the model you have hired and what is missing. Being that the cost of camper trailers can be a significant purchase for any family, once you have hired one, you can be sure that you will understand your families requirements and be able to purchase one to suit saving you money not ordering the accessories included in most packages.

Camper trailer hire